Roger B. DeBerardine

Roger B. DeBerardine, age 94, of Upper Saddle River, passed away peacefully on November 19, 2024.

Roger was predeceased by his beloved Rose, his wife of 66 years. Rose and Roger shared a friendship that began when Rose threw a snowball his way during a Brooklyn snowstorm in the winter of 1948. He often said that he knew then he would marry her someday.

Roger relished being a kid in Brooklyn…playing stickball, going to “the cinema”, or rooting against the neighborhood kids whenever the Yanks took on the Dodgers. The son of a professional boxer, Roger loved accompanying his dad on outings around town with his elder brother Tommy. The two boys learned pool at their father’s pool hall—Roger played plenty, and passed along tips to children, grandchildren and innumerable friends. An excellent athlete, Roger was fast in a race, a force on the baseball diamond, and fearless as a first-time skier at 40.

Roger graduated from Boys High School and attended St. John’s University, earning both his Bachelor’s and his LL.B degree. After graduating from law school, Roger proudly served in the U.S. Army on active duty in Reykjavik, Iceland from October 1954 to July 1956, attaining the rank of Corporal. Roger was honorably discharged from service in the USAR Standby Reserve in September 1962.

Barely home from service in Iceland, Roger married Rose on September 1, 1956 and the couple started their family in Brooklyn. At the same time, he and two St. John’s law school friends established a law firm in downtown Brooklyn. Roger was a brilliant trial lawyer and practiced in state and Federal courts throughout New York City. He was an insurance defense specialist, much favored by The Hartford Insurance Company. Roger’s connection to Brooklyn also helped him develop a wide-ranging practice for many in the community—including more than a few former jurors who had seen him in action. He inspired all four of his children to attend law school. Roger maintained a law practice until 2020, having been joined along the way by daughter Elaine. With that event, Roger realized a dream of seeing the name “DeBerardine” repeated on the firm’s letterhead.

In 1969, Roger and Rose moved their family to the quiet town of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. The 90-minute commute to and from Brooklyn did not deter Roger from being home for dinner with his family every night, even if it meant recording dictation late into the night at the dining room table after his children were asleep. Roger loved the Upper Saddle River community and soon became an active and respected leader, serving in both the USR Parent Teacher Organization and on the USR Board of Education (1973 to 1982). While on the Board, he held leadership positions and used his legal talents to negotiate faculty contracts and develop school policy. Roger later became a USR Councilman in 2004 and again from 2009 to 2020, serving as President from 2012-2018. There, he earned the nickname “Mr. Environment” for his involvement in efforts to preserve USR’s clean water table. Other areas of service included the USR Planning Board (2004-2020), the USR Shade Tree Commission (2013-2020), the Council Liaison for Historic Preservation and the Contract Negotiations Committee. In December 2021, he was honored by the Mayor and Council for his years of community service and volunteerism.

A believer in the power of both local government and community, Roger joined with others to explore a lack of USR community recreation opportunities for families and, most importantly, children. A bond issuance enabled the purchase of land and the development of what was to become the Saddle River Valley Swim and Tennis Club. Roger served on its Board for over two decades, and as its President for ten years. The SRVSTC became a vibrant and welcoming fixture in the community—it still provides families and neighbors a place to gather, build friendships, and engage in summer exercise and friendly competition. It is responsible for teaching countless children (and adults!) how to swim and play tennis.

Roger’s service commitment to Upper Saddle River was also recognized by the Saddle River Valley Lions Club when he was inducted as a Lion in 2015. At that time, Roger said, “being actively involved in public service has always been a part of my life. To me, it is a personal value in which I strongly believe, so becoming a Lion seemed an especially good way to continue helping others and, of course, to protect the environment.”

Roger’s wisdom and “can do” spirit extended to how he interacted with both extended family and friends. He was a doting husband, an adoring father, grandfather and uncle, and a loyal friend who counseled many over the years. He was a modern-day Renaissance man…at home in Yankee or Giants stadium or the Metropolitan Opera House. Long before the Met included opera subtitles, you could find Roger on the train reading the libretto to whatever opera was next up in his subscription. He could speak as enthusiastically about watching Joe DiMaggio play as about experiencing Pavarotti sing or Julio Bocca dance. When it came to parties and celebrations, he loved to dance, especially with Rose. His early days in NY clubs like the Copacabana gave him finesse and grace, and he and Rose were always among the first on the dance floor and the last to leave. If an occasion needed a good speech, or better a poem, Roger was on task. At over 90 years old, he could still marvel his grandchildren reciting epic poems by heart. A historian at his core, family vacations weren’t complete without a visit to some monument, battlefield or historic location. His children lost count of the Presidents’ homes visited over the years! Blessed with dear and close friends, Roger and Rose enjoyed travel after their children were grown. Their photo albums from this period reflect wonderful memories of recreation and camaraderie visiting friends in Steamboat, Plymouth, Lake George, Hilton Head and Stone Harbor, as well as entertaining both family and friends at their vacation home in the Adirondacks. Family vacations gave way to wider travel and exploration of art, music, sights and cuisine. Yet, they especially treasured those times when they traveled to Italy, Ireland and France with children, in-laws and grandchildren. As a father and grandfather, Roger was always ready to throw a ball, play in the snow or teach whoever was next in line how to swim or dive. Back dives were his specialty.

Roger was the beloved father of Roger, Robert, Veronica & Elaine, and engaging grandfather to James, Maggie & Rob DeBerardine, Max & Ella DeBerardine, Natalie & Matt Bennett, and Grace Sullivan. In addition to his children and grandchildren, Roger is survived by his sister-in-law Kathleen Policano, many nieces and nephews, son-in-law Bruce Bennett, and daughters-in-law Maryann Sullivan, Terra DeBerardine, Micheline DeBerardine and Cara Williams DeBerardine. He was predeceased by his beloved parents D.Thomas and Rose, his brother Thomas and sister-in-law Jean, his brother-in-law Charles Policano and sister-in-law Lorraine, his brother-in-law James Policano and nephew James Matthew Policano.

Roger lived a beautiful life and leaves a legacy of wisdom, love and service to his family, friends and community. The impact of his infinite character and big heart will live on in those blessed to have known him. For those who loved him most, he will be treasured and remembered daily. As the saying in his favorite movie goes, Roger “really had a wonderful life.”

A Catholic Mass in celebration of Roger’s life will be held on Monday, November 25th at 10am at the Church of the Presentation, 271 West Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Interment will follow at Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for contributions to Good Shepherd Volunteers (www.gsvolunteers.org), the Guild for Exceptional Children (www.gecbklyn.org), or to a cause of your choice for protecting the environment.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roger B. DeBerardine, please visit our floral store.